Trout is a well-known game fish that lives in cool freshwater. Since trout are not picky about what they eat, it’s generally easy to catch one, making trout fishing a popular American pastime.
You don’t need much to land a nice trout. Just a basic rod and reel should do it, along with some enticing bait. But if you want to learn how to attract and hook the most impressive specimens, you’ve come to the right place.
Cast off and see what you can come up with in our brown trout and rainbow trout sections. We’re glad you stopped by!
When fishing heavily pressured waters, anglers should try using small flies, fishing slowly, covering all levels of the water column, and being discreet. You want your flies to stand out just enough to look appealing but not out of place. Don’t focus on fooling trout, but appear as natural as possible. On a recent trip …
The flesh of any trout is completely dependent upon the fish’s diet. If a trout lives in a cold tailrace river below a dam and eats a diet of carotene-rich mysis shrimp, its flesh will be pink or orange. If a trout lives in a freestone river where its diet consists of mostly aquatic insects …
Yes, trout, like all fish, are vertebrates. They possess backbones and full skeletal systems that assist in mobility and protection. It may seem like an odd question, but given what swims in the waters the world over, I guess it’s legit. If you’ve ever wondered about the bone structure of trout, my guess it’s because …
Some of the best baits for stocked trout in urban ponds include minnows, nightcrawlers, PowerBait, woolly buggers, clouser minnows, Squiggly Worms, spinners, spoons, jerk baits, and jigs. Whether throwing live bait on a spinning rod or breaking out the fly fishing setup, catching urban trout is a test. Depending on where you live and your …
Fishing for trout after rain requires anglers to adapt. The rain may have blown out the stretch of water you’re fishing, and it may be unfishable, but that doesn’t mean everything is worthless. Rain provides fresh oxygen and stirs up insects, so trout look to eat right after the rainfall. One of my first fly …
Serious trout anglers invest heavily in gear like rods, reels, lines, flies, waders, clothing, and other accessories. Once the gear is purchased, the cost to get out on the water, thanks to travel and fishing licenses, adds up. Thankfully, there are ways to have a more budget-friendly experience. Like any hobby or passion, people can’t …
Some of the best places to find trout include Alaska, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and numerous other states. The ideal water conditions, plentiful food sources, and miles of rivers give several types of trout ample places to live. Thanks to diverse ecosystems and intense conservation efforts by local game …
To land brook trout in clear streams, find pools and other holding areas where brook trout feel protected. The clear water makes them susceptible to different predators, so they’re always skittish. Once you find the fish, ensure you have lightweight gear that doesn’t give you away. If you want to fish in some of the …
The Redington Classic Trout is more affordable than the Orvis Clearwater but less versatile. It performs great as a dry fly rod and in situations where you don’t have to make as large of casts or mends. The Clearwater is a jack-of-all-trades and keeps up with rods outside its price range. Sometimes, finding budget-friendly and …
Trout are migratory fish. They swim upstream from big-water habitat into smaller, calmer waters when it comes time to spawn. Some species of trout, like rainbow trout and cutthroat trout, migrate and spawn in the spring. Other species, like brown trout, swim upstream and spawn in the fall. When I was a beginning fly fisher …